Army Pfc. Theodore B. Rushing

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Army Pfc. Theodore B. Rushing, 25, of Longwood, Fla.

Pfc. Rushign was assigned to 3rd Squadron, 71st Cavalry Regiment; 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light), Fort Drum, N.Y., died Nov. 11, in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan, of wounds caused by an improvised explosive device.


Pfc Rushing was killed in action on Veterans Day, after heavy fighting in Afghanistan. He was on foot patrol when his unit encountered an IED.

Pfc Rushing joined Army in March 2011. He went through basic training at Ft Benning, GA, trained at the Cavalry Scout School at Fort Knox, Ky and arrived Ft Drum in July 2011. He deployed August. He served as a Forward Scout.

After graduating high school, he received his associate's degree at Seminole State College.

Pfc Rushing preferred to be outdoors, he loved to ride his BMX bike or surf the waves at Cocoa Beach.

Growing up in Orlando, Theodore "Teddy" Rushing was always something of a daredevil, said his father, Rick Rushing. "He was one of those kids who'd be bungee-jumping, skateboarding or jumping off the roof."

Pfc Rushing was going to follow his father, Rick's footsteps, who is a police officer with the Orlando Police Department, but once he joined the army, he told his dad that he'd found a new career.

"He told me, 'Dad, this is it.' This is what he wanted to do. He loved being a scout, being the first one out in front of everybody else to make sure it's safe. He liked the fact that he was able to give back to his country that had given so much back to him. He liked the fact that he was a Calvary scout, out front paving the way for everybody else," said Rushing's father.

"The last time I talked with him, he wouldn't share much about what was going on, but he said it was very dangerous, heavy fighting," his dad said. "He was the only casualty that day, which tells me that he was out front doing his job and he didn't let anyone get close enough to get hurt. We're so very proud."

Johnette Barton, assistant director of the school, said that during a senior trip to the mountains, Teddy attempted to ride down a mountain slope on his skateboard, Barton said. Despite being injured, he was still eager to go whitewater rafting and bungee jumping.

"Teddy was enthusiastic about life. He never knew a stranger. Everybody loved him. He was the life of the party," said Barton.

Pfc Rushing's awards and decorations include:
Purple Heart
National Defense Service Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal
Army Service Ribbon
Overseas Service Ribbon
NATO Medal
Army Combat Action Badge
Combat and special skill badge, weapons expert and overseas service bar

Pfc Rushing was laid to rest on November 28 at Arlington National Cemetery.

He is survived by his parents, Ann and Rick; sister, Stacy; maternal grandmother, Marcheta; maternal grandfather, William.

Army Pfc. Theodore B. Rushing was killed in action on 11/11/11.

Army Pfc. Cody R. Norris

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Army Pfc. Cody R. Norris, 20, of Houston, Texas

Pfc Norris was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 34th Armor Regiment, 1st Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kan.,died Nov. 9, 2011 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of wounds caused by enemy small-arms fire.


Pfc Norris graduated from La Porte High School in 2010, where he was in ROTC and was a member of the Color Guard, Rifle Team and was a member of the Military Museum.

Following in his brother's footsteps, Pfc Norris joined the Army in 2010. He won the expert marksman badge during basic training. This was his first deployment.

Family and friends described him as someone who made everyone smile and just being silly. He was bubbly, happy, energetic, light hearted.

"He loved what he was doing," said Pastor Jim Bob Benton, who gave the eulogy at Norris' funeral. "It was like he was made to do what he was doing, and he loved his family, and those two things came together to bring him where he was."

He quoted Norris' own words on his Facebook page: "I love what I do as my job and my dream in life and no one can take that way from me. I am trained by the best, and I will be the best as I can. Wanna do all I can for the ones I love and my country. To keep all of us free!!! Even if it means death."

Pfc Norris enjoyed paintball, deer hunting, playing video games, Hibachi food, and working on his 1952 M37 Army Truck that he had convinced his stepfather to let him buy. He drove it to and from classes.

"It wasn't a fast ride," Benton said. "It took an hour, hour and a half, every day, back and forth," but the slow commute didn't bother Norris.

Pfc Norris briefly returned home from Afghanistan on leave last month to celebrate his 20th birthday with family and friends, but was eager to get back.

Benton said, "He knew he needed to go back. He had buddies he wanted to protect and one of the things he told everybody was, 'Look, I'm not afraid to die.'"

To have known Norris was a gift from God, the pastor said. "That's not something that can be taken away. He's with us. He'll be with us always, forever young."

Pfc Norris' awards and decorations include:
Army Commendation Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two campaign stars
NATO Medal
Combat Infantryman Badge

Pfc Norris was laid to rest on November 21 at Grand View Memorial Park, Pasadena, TX. The Patriot Guard escorted.

Pfc Norris is survived by his mother, Terri, and stepfather, Kenneth; father, Reese Norris; brother, Michael Norris,a cadet at West Point; grandparents, Robert and Patricia Vegil, and Geneva Pynes.

Army Pfc. Cody R. Norris was killed in action on 11/09/11.

Marine Lance Cpl. Nickolas A. Daniels

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Marine Lance Cpl. Nickolas A. Daniels, 25, of Elmwood Park, Ill.

LCpl Daniels was assigned to 3rd Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Twentynine Palms, Calif.; died Nov. 5, 2011 in Helmand province, Afghanistan, while conducting combat operations.


Lcpl Daniels graduated from Saint Patrick High School in 2004, where he played football, and later coached football for his alma mater.

Lcpl Daniels joined the Marines in January 2010. He reported on September 3 and left for his first tour of duty in Afghanistan 16 days later. He had only been in Afghanistan for six weeks when he was killed. He served as a combat engineer.

Oldest of four children, Lcpl Daniels aspired to become a police officer. Family and friends described Nick as a very happy, fun loving young man, who was very driven, dedicated, and goal oriented. He planned to marry his fiancee, Katie, when he returned home.

"Everybody always thinks it's not going to happen to their family but it's real and it happens," said family friend Joe Pullia.

His sister, Kati, said that L-Cpl Daniels had joined the Marine Corps less than two years ago and was trained in bomb disposal.

"I just didn't believe it because he was only there for a month and a half and he just got an award for digging up a bomb, and then this happened. And I didn't want to believe it when (the Marines) came to our house," she said.

"We're going to be here in the back for the procession and then when he walks out, we're all going to take a knee to remember Nick and how he was our coach," said Ryan Tentler, co-captain of the football team.

"It hit us pretty hard just because he was a shamrock. Most of us knew him because we all played football. He was a great coach," said Zeck Jankeiwicz, football team co-captain.

Lonny Daniels says his big brother was always up for a challenge and loved competition. Lonny says he will always remember Nick as cool guy who watched out for his younger siblings.

"I always aspired to be like him. He was always fast, athletic, the girls loved him," Lonny said. "He's really funny, probably one of the funniest guys. He had a really good attitude with everybody. Everybody loved him."

Master Sergeant Rick Hernandez, who led the honor guard, said, "We're going to do for Nick what I know Nick would do for me. That's what I'm going to do for Nick today."

"For me personally, it's very difficult to wrap my mind around. But it's so much more about him and what a special person he was," said Timothy Woods, friend and co-worker.

Lcpl Daniels' awards and decorations include:
Purple Heart
Combat Action Ribbon
National Defense Service Metal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Sea Service Deployment Ribbon

Lcpl Daniels was laid to rest on November 13 at Elmwood Cemetery in River Grove.

Nick Daniels is survived by his mother and stepdad, Eva and Roger; father and stepmom, Gregory and Debi; siblings Kati, Lonny, Olivi; stepbrothers, Billy and Jacob; grandparents Susie Daniels and Lottie Kamien; fiancee, Katie.

Marine Lance Cpl. Nickolas A. Daniels was killed in action on 11/05/11.

Army 1st Lt. Dustin D. Vincent

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Army 1st Lt. Dustin D. Vincent, 25, of Mesquite, Texas

1st Lt. Vincent was assigned to 1st Battalion, 5th Field Artillery, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kan.; died Nov. 3, 2011 in Kirkuk province, Iraq, of wounds caused by enemy small-arms fire.


Lt Vincent graduated from Mesquite High School and attended University of Texas in Arlington, where he studied engineering.

He joined the Army in 2009 and served as an artillery officer.This was his first deployment.

Lt Vincent married wife two days before deployed and had adopted her daughter.

Step-sister, Chandra Usry, described Lt Vincent as loving, selfless and kind, stating that he took her right in when they were brought together by marriage a few years ago.

Lt Vincent's awards and decorations include:

Army Commendation Medal
Army Achievement Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Iraq Campaign Medal with one Campaign Star
Global War on Terror Service Medal
Army Service Ribbon

I didn't know him but attended his memorial here in Iraq today. His soldiers loved him and his commanders thought very highly of him. Funny thing, they teased him about always looking forward to "taco day" in the dining facility. He said he loved tacos because he was from Texas and it reminded him of home.~Kevin M.

Army 1st Lt. Dustin D. Vincent was killed in action on 11/03/11.

Army Pfc. Sarina N. Butcher

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Army Pfc. Sarina N. Butcher, 19, of Checotah, Okla.

Pfc. Butcher was assigned to 700th Brigade Support Battalion, 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Oklahoma National Guard, Tulsa, Okla.; died Nov. 1, 2011 in Paktya province, Afghanistan, of wounds caused by an improvised explosive device. Also killed was Army Spc. Christopher D. Gailey.


“Spc. Sarina Butcher left her friends, family and a young child to help defend our nation,” Maj. Gen. Myles Deering, adjutant general for Oklahoma, said in a statement. “She was a brave young woman who selflessly gave all she had for her country and the other soldiers that served alongside her.”

Following in her grandfather's and brother's footsteps, Spc Butcher joined the National Guard to help finance and pursue her career dreams of becoming a nurse while also helping to support her daughter, Zoey.

Spc Butcher joined the Guard in April 2010 and served as an automated logistical specialist. She deployed in June.

Her grandmother, Martha Wills, described her as a much-loved daughter, sister, granddaughter and mother.

She was really outgoing and there was no one that wasn't her friend," said mother Dana Bailey.

“She was barely 5 foot 2, and her heart was bigger than she was,” grandfather, James Clayton Mills said.

"I tried to instill in her, good traditions and things about the military. She always looked up to me as her hero, but today, she's my hero," her grandfather said.

Mills says Sarina's spirit lives on through her daughter. "Sarina used to sit and talk, throw her hand on her hip. Zoey does the same thing at two and half years old. So she's going to up and be another Sarina."

Spc Butcher's awards and decorations include:

Bronze Star
Purple Heart
National Defense Service Medal
Army Service Ribbon
Oklahoma Good Conduct Medal

Spc Butcher is survived by her mother, Dana and step-father, Howard.; father, James and step-mother, Cheryl; daughter, Zoey; brother, Anthony; and grandparents, Clayton and Martha Mills and Betty Terrell.

Army Pfc. Sarina N. Butcher was killed in action on 11/01/11.

Army Sgt. Christopher D. Gailey

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Army Sgt. Christopher D. Gailey, 26, of Ochelata, Okla.

Sgt Gailey was assigned to 700th Brigade Support Battalion, 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Oklahoma National Guard, Tulsa, Okla.; died Nov. 1, 2011 in Paktya province, Afghanistan, of wounds caused by an improvised explosive device. Also killed was Army Pfc. Sarina N. Butcher.


Sgt Gailey graduated from Caney Valley High School in 2005. He enlisted in the National Guard in 2004. He served as a motor vehicle operator.

This was Sgt Gailey's second deployment, having previously deployed to Iraq in 2007. He deployed to Afghanistan in June.

He loved to be outside riding four-wheelers and mudding with his friends.

Family friend, Heather Fugate, said, "He was one of the best guys around. He would do anything for you. That's the kind of guy he was.

"He was a fantastic father. He loved his little girl," she said.

Christopher's twin sister, Tina, spoke of emails her brother had sent her. She said that the death of a comrade had stirred him and that in the event that something should happen to him, he told her, "I want people to think I helped where I could when I could." He said, “I don’t want anyone to cry for me."

Chaplain David Jordan first met Gailey in the gym, said, "What I was so overwhelmed by was his tender heart," Jordan said. "He made such a difference in so many lives."

Chaplain Jordan said he and Gailey developed a strong relationship during their time in service together.

"The thing we shared at the time is we were both woefully out of shape," Jordan said. So they worked together to get ready for their upcoming deployment.

"Every day there would be a friendly smile and a welcome," Jordan said. "He was always glad to see me."

Jordan said it has been a difficult time for those in Oklahoma and the soldiers in the 45th IBCT, but Gailey had a particularly difficult time when one of his friends was killed there.

Father, Shan Gailey, said the last time he saw his son was when he came home for leave on his birthday in September.

Sgt Gailey's awards and decorations include:

Purple Heart
Bronze Star
National defense Service Medal
Army Service Ribbon
Armed orces Reserve Medal with "M" Device
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Iraq Campaign Medal
Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal
Oklahoma Long Service Ribbon

Sgt Gailey is survived by his parents, Tammy and Shan; daughter, Allison; siblings, Beau, Angelina and Kristina; paternal grandmother, Lela Belle Gailey; maternal grandparents, Carl and Carol.

Army Sgt. Christopher D. Gailey was killed in action on 11/01/11.